Abstract [en]

The correlation between the expectations before shoulder surgery and to which extent they affect patient satisfaction is not unambiguous. Positive expectations are important whilst unrealistic expectations could lead to reduced patient satisfaction. Follow up based on the experiences of the individual is important to follow results and increase patient satisfaction in a person centred care. The aim of this study was to narrate the preoperative goals and the fulfilment of these goals after one year for a group of patients who had undergone shoulder surgery and to investigate the eventual relationship between different expectations and degree of goal fulfilment. The aim was also to describe the perceived life quality before and one year after surgery, to correlate perceived life quality and goal fulfilment after one year and to examine eventual differences in assessed values due to demographic factors. The method was a correlative prospective register based study. The main result showed high degree of patient satisfaction for both assessed life quality and fulfilment of personal expectations, the correlation between these values where strong. Relief of pain was the most common expectation. Significant correlation between expectations and goal assessment where seen in the groups ¨return to work¨ and ¨relief of nocturnal pain¨. Women assessed significant lower values than men before operation but no significant differences where seen at the follow-up after one year. The conclusion was that the study population had high preoperative expectations and that these where fulfilled to a great extent. An explicit increase in perceived life quality was also seen. Relief or reduction of pain was clearly the most important expectation before surgery. This evaluation of patients’ sense of goal fulfilment and perceived life quality might give feed back in the work to strengthen and generate a person centred approach.